NICK VALAIKA, SS, Hart, Jr. — The last in a line of Valaika brothers to play shortstop for Hart, Valaika has signed with UCLA after batting .316 as a 10 th-grader.

ALBEE WEISS, C, Agoura, Jr. — A dominant player who batted .368 with 26 RBIs as a sophomore, Weiss is a key reason why Agoura has such a deep pitching staff.

OTHERS TO WATCH

PITCHERS

Sean Barry, Moorpark, Sr.

Cody Bennett, West Ranch, Sr.

Matt Campbell, Simi Valley, Jr.

Moises Ceja, Kennedy, Sr.

Cole Currie, Crescenta Valley, Sr.

Conor Cuse, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.

Zak Daniels, Westlake, Sr.

Chris Danielson, Saugus, Sr.

Rene Deleon, Alemany, Sr.

Spencer Dubaich, Simi Valley, Sr.

Andy Frakes, Crespi, Sr.

Hans Hansen, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.

Andrew Marmor, North Hollywood, Jr.

Jack Morello, SO Notre Dame, Jr.

Josuy Moreno, Poly, Sr.

Daniel Rivas, Birmingham, Sr.

Andy Sondreaal, Agoura, Sr.

Jack Swiech, Paraclete, Sr.

Kevin Victoria, Chaminade, Sr.

Max Weinstein, Canyon, Sr.

CATCHERS

Clayton Hubbard, Granada Hills, Sr.

Jack Kruger, Oaks Christian, Sr.

Baggio Saldivar, Hart, Sr.

Colton Waltner, Newbury Park, Sr.

Nick Warren, Saugus, Sr.

INFIELDERS

Ryan Alvarez, Alemany, Sr.

Daniel Barnett, Newbury Park, Sr.

Ted Boeke, Crescenta Valley, Sr.

Zander Clarke, Newbury Park, Jr.

Adam Cox, Taft, Sr.

Andrew Devian, Cleveland, Sr.

Robert Factora, Grant, Sr.

Bryce Fehmel, Agoura, So.

Dylan Freyre, Saugus, Sr.

Chris Garcia, Arleta, Sr.

Myles Hager, Chaminade, Sr.

Riley Helland, Oaks Christian, So.

Jake Hirabayashi, Notre Dame, Jr.

Wyatt Hogan, Simi Valley, Sr.

Alex Horowitz, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.

Harrison Huff, Oaks Christian, Sr.

Andres Kim, St. Francis, So.

Vince Leoni, Crespi, Sr., David Metzgar, Paraclete, Sr.

Dylan Mersola, Burbank, Sr.

Nick Milone, Chatsworth, Sr.

Brandon Mona, Verdugo Hills, Sr.

Dayton Provost, Hart, So.

Nick Rodriguez, Kennedy, Jr.

Sammy Ross, Calabasas, Sr.

Alec Smith, Quartz Hill, Sr.

Nick Snyder, El Camino Real, Sr.

Jonathan Teaney, Quartz Hill, Jr.

Dallas Tessar, Chaminade, So.

Brian Tucker, Sierra Canyon, Sr.

OUTFIELDERS

Raul Camas, Chatsworth, Sr.

Mykel Davis, Simi Valley, Sr.

Brandon Evans, Oaks Christian, Sr.

Jake Fried, Sierra Canyon, Jr.

Chad Haslock, Hart, Jr.

Carlos Robles, San Fernando, Sr.

Mike Russo, Crescenta Valley, Jr.

Blake Rutherford, Chaminade, Fr.

Yannick Villanueva, El Camino Real, Sr.

Jarret Weiss, Buckley, Sr.

FIVE BURNING QUESTIONS

1. Who is the area's most complete player?

Arden Pabst. The senior catcher from Harvard-Westlake has dominated both offensively and defensively since his sophomore season, yet Pabst, who as a junior was already the San Fernando Valley's top catcher, has made great strides in the off-season, and the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder is better than ever.

After hitting .375 with four home runs and 35 RBIs against elite competition last season, Pabst should provide even more production, and no one is going to be able to touch his performances from behind the plate.

"Arden is playing baseball at a really high level," Harvard-Westlake coach Matt LaCour said. "His catching and arm strength have come so far, and he made a couple of unbelievable plays Saturday in the first game of the season. Plus, he can hit with power to every field now – he's no long just a pull hitter.

"He has signed with Georgia Tech and should also go high in the draft, but as far as the major leagues are concerned, signability could be a factor because like a lot of our kids, he's big into school."

Yes. Both Giolito and Fried are millionaires after being picked in the first round of the Major League draft and signing lucrative contracts, but there is more where that came from. Jack Flaherty, a junior right-hander, is back after going 6-1 with a 1.77 ERA, and Hans Hansen (4-1, 1.17 ERA) returns, too. Plus, Harvard-Westlake is ready to unleash Conor Cuse, a right-hander who did not pitch an inning last season but has made vast improvement. If recent outings in the fall and winter are an indication, Cuse could emerge as the Mission League's top pitcher.

3. Will a San Fernando Valley team win yet another City Section championship at Dodger Stadium?

Of course. Valley teams have won 39 of the past 40 City championships at Chavez Ravine, including last season, when El Camino Real defeated Chatsworth 5-4 in nine innings. Both El Camino Real and Chatsworth are favorites once again after returning their top pitchers, as El Camino Real's Luke Laurita and Owen Perry are back, along with Chatsworth's Jason Karkenny.

Chatsworth has won a City-best nine titles, seven over an 11-year span ending in 2009, but it's been four years since the last one, so the Chancellors are due. Some of the other key Chatsworth returnees are first baseman/catcher Chris DeVito, infielder/pitcher Nick Milone, outfielder Raul Camas and shortstop Sam Shaikin.

El Camino Real returns catcher Michael Pope, outfielder Yannick Villanueva and infielder Nick Snyder, among others. The Conquistadores should be even better than last season.

And don't count out San Fernando, which won it two years ago. Right-hander Alonzo Garcia is back after going 12-1 with a 0.84 ERA.

4. Which local team is most improved?

Oaks Christian. The Lions went 12-14 last season — not good enough for a school with the words "athletic distinction" in its mission statement — but every starter is back including ace pitcher Phil Bickford.

Overall, five Oaks Christian players are headed to major colleges including Utah-bound infielder Cole Taylor, who has rejoined after taking a year off from high school ball.

"We've gained some experience and learned some lessons, and we'll try to use those lessons," Oaks Christian coach Tim Penprase said. "There's no doubt we were disappointed last year. We thought we should have done more."

5. Who could be the area's comeback player of the year?

A.J. Balta. An outfielder/second baseman for Valencia, Balta hit 11 home runs two years ago as a sophomore but hit just one home run last season while struggling throughout the year because of an injured back.

The Oregon signee is ready to re-assume his role as one of the area's most feared left-hand hitters. Of course, because of bat restrictions, there were a lot fewer home runs last season, so it will be difficult for Balta to hit 11 again — but he is going to try.

"I think I have the ability to, but we'll have to wait and see what this season has in store," Balta said.